Police Launches Crackdown On Reckless Boat Users On Lake Albert

The marine police unit has launched a crackdown on boats floutinglifejacket rules on Lake Albert.This was revealed by Michael Walwanga, the deputy commandant marinepolice unit while receiving life-saving and rescue equipment donatedby International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the marine unitat Sebagoro landing site in Kabwoya sub county, Kukuube district.

Walwanga says enforcement officers have already been deployed on the lake to crackdown on transporters flouting lifejacket rules. He has urged all transporters to acquire lifejackets for their passengers.

He notes that hundreds of people including Congolese refugees have lost their lives because of sailing on the waters without lifejackets. He adds that anybody who sails people on the waters without lifejackets commits a crime according section 233 of the penal code.

While handing over the life-saving and rescue equipment, Ali Abdi the chief of Mission for IOM says the equipment will help in saving and rescuing lives of accident victims on Lake Albert.

The equipment worth 20,000 US dollars includes, the final batch of 315 life jackets in the addition to 85 that were handed over this year in March, Seven very high frequency radios, 50 light emitting diode torches and 100 pairs of lead batteries.

Abidi commended the Ugandan government for the hospitality given to the refugees and pledged for continued support. The donation comes on the backdrop of increased water accidents on Lake Albert in Hoima, Kikuube, Kagadi, and Buliisa districts in Bunyoro sub region.

Scores of refugees from eastern DR Congo have lost their lives in boat accidents while trying to cross into Uganda on Lake Albert. In February 2018, four Congolese refugees who were fleeing tribal clashes in Ituri province died after their boat capsized in Lake Albert in Hoima district.

More than 81,000 Congolese refugees have fled to Uganda from DR Congo since the beginning of 2018, according to the UN Refugee Agency- UNHCR. Nearly half of the arrivals are crossing into Uganda on the choppy waters of Lake Albert without protective gear, aboard unstable and overcrowded fishing boats.